"Breathe in to prepare, breathe out to move." If you've been to a Pilates class, you'll have heard a version of this. Breathing is one of the core principles of Pilates, and it's often the thing new clients find hardest to master.
Why breath matters
Your breath and your core are closely connected. Breathing well helps you engage your deep abdominal muscles, stay steady through each movement and keep a smooth, controlled rhythm.
It also helps you stay present. When you're focused on your breath, it's much harder to rush.
Lateral breathing
In Pilates, we often use lateral breathing. Instead of letting your belly rise as you breathe in, you breathe wide into the sides and back of your ribcage, while keeping a gentle connection through your core.
Try it now: place your hands on the sides of your ribs. Breathe in through your nose and feel your ribs expand into your hands. Breathe out through your mouth and feel them draw back in.
Matching breath to movement
As a general rule, you'll breathe out on the effort, the hardest part of the movement. Breathing out helps you draw in through your core and stay supported as you work.
Don't worry if it feels unnatural at first. Your instructor will cue your breath throughout the class, and it soon becomes second nature.
Don't hold your breath
When exercises get challenging, it's tempting to hold your breath. Keep it flowing. If you lose the rhythm, simply pause, reset and start again.
Practise in class
Foundations is the perfect place to work on your breathing, alongside alignment and core connection. Once it clicks, you'll feel the difference in every class.